This coming Sunday we will giving our attention to Matthew 3, where we hear John's preaching and read of Jesus' baptism. This is entirely fitting, since the events surrounding Jesus' birth and the birth itself (being the Father's gift of the Son as the fulfilment of the covenant promises of God) point beyond the infancy narratives to the great Messianic purpose for which the Son has come.
In Matt. 3 we read of a preparation for the King's appearing in the ministry of John, a declaration of the King's mission and an affirmation of the King's authority. All of these are given to us in terms heavily freighted with OT meaning and significance. By necessity, we will need to focus on one main line of OT references and in this case we will be paying attention to the Messianic task of winnowing and clearing His threshing floor. This may seem an unusual focus, but it is a rich vein in the OT preparation for the coming of the Son.
The Bible readings for the service will be Is. 11:1-10 and Marr. 3:1-17. In addition there are a number of other passages that bear on our theme, and you may like to read Is. 4:2-6; 41:5-16; Mal. 3:2-6; 4:1-4 (which all relate to the matters of threshing, winnowing and cleansing) and 1 Chron. 21:1-22:5, where the theme of the Threshing Floor is prominent
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Rev. Dr Noel Due is a Lutheran pastor, author and theological educator with extensive teaching and preaching experience in Australia, Scotland, India and elsewhere. He is the author of New Life: New Love, Live in Liberty: The Spiritual Message of Galatians, Embracing God as...
